Lafayette man arrested in connection with home invasion

With help from the U.S. Marshals Office, McMinnville police have arrested a suspect in a previously undisclosed home invastion robbery that occured in McMinnville on Oct. 14.

Daniel Ray Thornton, 29, of Lafayette, was taken into custody about 8:30 a.m. Thursday in front of Gallery Theater, at the intersection of Ford and Second streets. He was followed into town by U.S. marshals in two Chevrolet Suburbans.

He was charged with one count each of first-degree assault, first-degree robbery, first-degree burglary and unlawful use of a weapon, all felonies.

McMinnville police had been secretly seeking Thornton in connection with a violent home invasion occurring Oct. 14 at 1444 N.W. 5th St. They said three men robbed and beat a 49-year-old man and his 22-year-old son at the residence, then fled.

"Through investigative leads, detectives from the McMinnville Police Department were able to identify Mr. Thornton as one of the suspects involved in the crime," police said in a press release. "(We) utilized the assistance of the U.S. marshals after it was believed that Mr. Thornton was possibly trying to flee the area."

Police said they did not report the violent home invasion attack because they did not think the general public was at risk and did not want to spook the suspects.